1. Benjamin Franklin

2. Meet Benjamin Franklin
Born in Boston on January 17, 1706
• 10th son of a soap maker, Josiah Franklin
• Josiah intended for Ben to enter into the clergy, but he could only afford to send him to school for one year
• He loved to read
• Became apprentice to brother James, a printer
• 12 year old Ben would sell products in the streets

3. Apprentice Printer
• Ben would sneak letters under print shop door at night so no one knew who wrote the pieces – immediate smash hit!
• Confessed after 16 letters
• Most people thought it was funny but James was jealous of Benjamin
When 15 years old, his brother started The New England Courant (the first “newspaper” in Boston)
Ben longed to write for newspaper but James wouldn’t allow
So Ben began writing letters at night and signing them with the name of a fictional widow, Silence Dogood
Dogood: filled with advice and critical of how women were treated

4. Escape to Philadelphia
James was eventually thrown in jail for some of his controversial opinions in the paper and Ben was left to run it
Upon release from jail, James was not grateful to Ben and continued to harass him
Ben decided to run away in 1723, an illegal act
Found work as an apprentice printer and found future wife Deborah Read
Doing so great that the governor made him a promise but reneged and Ben was stuck in London for several months
Set up his own business when he returned back to Philadelphia
1728: fathered a child named William
1730: married Deborah Read
Also ran a goods store and a book store

5. Pennsylvania Gazette
1729: bought a newspaper, the Pennsylvania Gazette
Franklin printed the paper and contributed pieces under different aliases
Soon became most successful in colonies
Would print 1st political cartoon, authored by Franklin
Franklin was also devoted to public good
Organized the Junto, young working-man’s group dedicated to self-and-civic improvement

6. Poor Richard’s Almanac
Started publishing in 1733
Franklin published his Almanac under the name of Richard Saunders, a poor man who needed money to take care of his dissatisfied wife
Almanacs were printed annually and contained weather reports, recipes, and predictions
Franklin’s was distinguished because of his witty aphorisms and lively writing
Many sayings you hear today come from Poor Richard

7. Aphorism
Brief saying embodying a moral; a concise statement of a principle given in pointed words.
EXAMPLES:
Emerson: Imitation is suicide Franklin: Lost Time is never Found again.

8. Accomplishments Helped to launch the Library Company in 1731
1736: organized Philadelphia’s Union Fire Company, 1st in the city
1743: launched American Philosophical Society, 1st learned society in America
1751: helped bring together group who formed Pennsylvania Hospital
1752: helped to found the Philadelphia Contribution for Insurance Against Loss by Fire

9. Inventions
1749: retired from business and began focusing on science, inventions, and experiments
1743: Franklin had already invented a heat-efficient stove to warm houses
Other inventions include swim fins and bifocals
1750’s: turned to the study of electricity and made advances with his lightning rod

10. Political Scene and Ending
Franklin had always been a loyal Englishman until the Stamp Act and his British “friends” began turning their backs
Began to work for independence and son William turned his back, causing a rift between the two
Elected to 2nd Continental Congress that drafted the Declaration of Independence
1778: convinced France to sign a Treaty of Alliance
Died April 17, 1790 at age 84
20,000 people attended his funeral